Sword Techniques

    
                               

Link can learn eight sword techniques in The Minish Cap. Each one is taught by one of the Blade Brothers, a family of swordsmen with dojos scattered across Hyrule, and each comes with a Tiger Scroll that is kept in your inventory. None of them cost anything to learn, but most need a particular item or sword before the master will teach you. Three more brothers don't teach new moves, but they will strengthen the ones you know.

Swiftblade's Dojo (Hyrule Town)

Swiftblade's dojo is the log cabin on the west side of Hyrule Town, just inside the town's southern entrance. He teaches four techniques, each one as soon as you have what he's looking for, so check back with him whenever you pick up a new item.

1. Spin Attack
Requirement: the Smith's Sword (available from the start).
How to use it: hold down the sword button until your blade glows, then release it to spin and hit everything around you.
You'll need this one early: the soldier guarding the north-west exit of Hyrule Town won't let you out toward Mt. Crenel until you show him your Spin Attack.

2. Rock Breaker
Requirement: the White Sword (Swiftblade will teach you as soon as Melari has repaired your blade).
How to use it: just swing your sword; it can now smash small rocks and pots.

3. Dash Attack
Requirement: the Pegasus Boots.
How to use it: hold the sword button while dashing with the Pegasus Boots to charge forward with your sword out in front of you.

4. Down Thrust
Requirement: the Roc's Cape.
How to use it: jump with the Roc's Cape and press the sword button at the top of the jump to plunge straight down with your blade.

Grayblade's Dojo (Mt. Crenel)

5. Roll Attack
Where: on the east side of Mt. Crenel. Climb the rock walls with the Grip Ring to reach the dojo. The door is sealed by two switches that have to be pressed at the same time, so split into two Links (you need a White Sword infused with at least two Elements to make a copy).
How to use it: roll, and swing your sword as you come out of the roll for a quick thrust.

Grimblade's Dojo (Hyrule Castle Garden)

6. Sword Beam
Where: cut the bushes in the south-east corner of Hyrule Castle Garden to uncover a hidden ladder, and follow the passage below. You need the Flame Lantern to light the torches that unlock the dojo door.
How to use it: when all of your hearts are full, every sword swing fires a beam of energy.

Waveblade's Dojo (Lake Hylia)

7. Peril Beam
Where: inside a hollow tree on the south-west shore of Lake Hylia. You'll need the Flippers to swim there. Waveblade won't teach you until you have at least ten hearts, so collect more Heart Containers and Pieces of Heart first if he turns you away.
How to use it: when you're down to one heart or less, your sword fires a beam with every swing. It's the opposite of the Sword Beam: a last-ditch weapon for when you're close to defeat.

Swiftblade the First (Castor Wilds)

8. Great Spin Attack
Where: the spirit of Swiftblade the First, the founder of the family, rests beneath a large tombstone in the south-west part of the Castor Wilds swamp. Warp to the Castor Wilds Wind Crest and walk into the swamp to find it.
Requirement: he only teaches you once you hold the other seven Tiger Scrolls.
How to use it: after releasing a Spin Attack, keep tapping the sword button to keep spinning and move around while you spin.

Upgrades from the Other Blade Brothers

Three Blade Brothers don't teach new scrolls, but they improve techniques you already know. Their dojos are hidden behind waterfalls, and each one only opens after you fuse Kinstones with one of their brothers.

  • Scarblade: fuse Kinstones with Grayblade to open his dojo behind the waterfall in the north-east of Castor Wilds (you'll need the Flippers to swim in). He makes your Spin Attack charge faster.
  • Splitblade: fuse Kinstones with Grimblade to open his dojo behind a waterfall at Veil Falls. He makes your split gauge (the one used to make copies of yourself) fill faster.
  • Greatblade: fuse Kinstones with Waveblade to open his dojo behind the waterfall in North Hyrule Field. He makes your Great Spin Attack last longer, so learn that first.